Ink distributor



Dec. 18, 193.4. G. A, "sKlDMoRE ET AL I v 1,985,112

INK DISTRIBUTOR Filed June e, 1933 2 sheets-:sheet 1 INVENTORS ATToR N Ys De- 18, 1934- G. A. SKIDMORE ET Al. 1,985,112

INK DISTRIBUTOR 'Filed June e, 193s -2 sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ATTORN S Patented Dec. 18, 1934 George Alexander Skidmore, Rahway, Frederick Raymond Molitor, College Mott, "New York, N. Y.

James Francis De N. J., and Point, and

Application June s, 1933, seal No. 674,578

13 Claims.

to lmeans which is deflat printing form of a printing press in the operation of the press.

The invention may be used advantageously in conjunction with a flat bed two-revolution press having inking means including distributor rollers for inking the printing form in, response to the reciprocation ing mounted so as to be moved take them out of of the into positions to inkdistributing action i to hold a quantity of ink in reserve or abeyance, and

means to pose, and also to positions for ink-distributing action,

move said rollers for the aforesaid purallow said rollers to move into so that the ink held in reserve or abeyance will be dis--v tributed uniformly portion of the form distribution of the ink of the form.

to the advanced or leading to give a substantially equal throughout `the entire area the invention are as follows: yit lsaves ink; it does away with'roller streaks, due to uneven ink distribution; it eliminates offset,

`and smut to a maximum; it does .not

or production; it produces a better grade of work; it produces an even color on the printed sheet; and it can be applied to all flat bed presses.

The nature of guishing ,features the invention and its distinand advantages will appear from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanylng drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view in dot-and-dash lines, of a two-color iiat bed tworevolution press selected yto illustrate the invention, which is shown applied thereto, the novel features being shown in Vfull lines; y

Fig. 2 is an lenlarged fragmentary side view and part 4section illustrating certain features of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the inking vmeans and and printing form,

bed embodying the ink Aplate `said bed being vshown in its forward position to receive ink from the usual duct or roller;

Fig. 4 is va view similarto Fig. 3, but 1showing the bed in its advanced position in `which `ink is transferred from ink-distributing means; Fig. 5 is a view similar -to Fig. 3,

rollers of the the inkplate tothe form but Vshow-ging the bed' return movement and the print-- ingy form being i.

utor .rollers are ked, during which vthe `distribtaken out -oi ink-distributing action -to hold :a quantity of ink in reserveer abeyance;

Fig. l6 is a view theV bed :advancing having thereserve tions to distribute similar to Fig.,3, but showing andthe .distributor rollers ink Ydown in distributing posiinkj .to the, leading or advanced latter, saidv rollers loe-v on the upper surface of the plate11.

vmeans is also employed forv inking the;v printing .vention of the rollers l13 area of the printing form to obtain a ,-fulland uniform or equal distribution of,V the ink on ythe entire area of theY form. Y l: Referring now more particularlyito thedraw-r, ings, it will be apparent thatthe invention'is shown applied to a flat bed two-revolution type of press, a portion of which is shown in dot-ande. da'shglines,l by way of example. ,Thistype ofpress includes a reciprocating bed 10, which car;-v ries the usual ink plate 11 andprnting form 12,'- It is tov be lunderstoodthat ink is transferred to the plate 11 from a fountain 13,A by the swing-i` ing duct or roller 14 as-the bed 1,0 reachesjits forward position. The `ink which1is ,transferred to the plate 11 is distributed thereon bylan assembly of rollers consistingof anglerollers 1:5, which roll in contact -with the plate 1l, and v,- brator rollers 16, which cooperate with the rollers 15 to obtain the proper distribution of '.tlieink` Inkns form 12, andvconsists of an assembly of rollers, consisting of form rollers17,vibrator rollers 18, and distributor` rollers 19. Therollers 1';1 are por', sitioned to receive inkjfrom the plate 11,k and to roll in contact with the printing surface of the form 12 to ink the latter. 'The vibrator rollers 18 and distributor rollers 19 cooperate;with1the form rollers 15 to obtain the desired distribution of the ink. l l

-In accordance with the inventionv the distribufv torrollers- 19 are mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions with respect tothe other rollers 17 andpl. kTothisend the trunnions or-journals 20V on the, oppositeends of the rollers 19v arezreoeived, .respectivelygin socket bearings 21 onthe -frameworkofzthe press, Itwill therefore be understood that the distributor rollers 19 may be moved up ,anddown -The rollers y19are moved upv into positions totake them out of ink-distributing-action, pose of holding a quantityvof ink in`A reserveer abeyance, and the saidfrollers19 are allowed to move downward into` positions for inlp-.distribut., ing'action, so that the held-in reserve -or abeyance will be distributed through Ithe-interand l 1f? `to" the printing form 12 in response to themovement` off.; the

`bed 10. Inorder to accomplish this result there is provided a rod 22 having up and downsliding movement in guides 23 `secured to the framework of the press. AAn arm 24,.-which disposed in its active position, has one endthereof pivotally connected -withthe upper end oftherod v22, at 25. 'Iv'he arml24 may be `swung up;- wardly on its pivot Afrom .the horizontal position into an inactive vposition in order not to .present an obstruction when removing ,the rollersv ljland 18. A shoulder 26 on the arm 24 -e,I igageable with. thefed prevents its memset downwardly for the purr.

4is horizontally` i UNITED sTATssj PATENT L beyond a horizontal position. I'he arm 24 is disposed so as to engage the trunnions or journals oftwo of the distributor rollers 19, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The lower :end of the rod 22 has connected therewith a roller 27, which is acted on by a cam 28 on the rotary cam shaft 29 of the press. The cam 28 acting on the roller 27, causes the rod 22 and its arm 24 to move up and down in responseto `the rotation ofthe shaft 29, and this is performed in timed accord with the reciprocation or motion of the bed l0 for the purpose of elevating the distributor rollers 19 and to let them move downwardly for the aforesaid purpose. It will therefore be understood that means is provided for moving the distributor rollers/ 19into positions to take them out of inkdistributing action in order to hold'a quantity of ink in reserve or abeyance and to let them come down into positions vfor ink-distributing action to feed the ink in reserve or abeyance at the proper time so that it will'be distributed substantially over the leading half of the form 12. This means is arranged in the present instance Y only on one side of the` press, and it therefore will be apparent that the `distributor rollers 19 will be canted to accomplish the desired result. If desired, similar means may be arranged on both sides of the press tocooperate with the rollers 19 for the intended purpose.

It will be obvious that if the distributor rollers 19 were not held up with a reserve supply of ink, the form rollers 17 would be nearly depleted of their supply of ink and while ink would be spread on the form 12 it would not be spread uniformly or equally throughout the entire area of the form 12, whereas rollers 1'9 come down with the reserve supply of ink they will make up for the deciency mentioned at the proper time and furnish inkA over theentire area of the form 12 `by* distributing the reserve supply of ink on substantially the leading half of the form 12.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that after the bed 10 has been moved forwardly and rearwardly a number of times without printing, ink will be transferred to the plate 11 from the fountain 13 by the roller 14. This ink is spread uniformly on the plate 11 by the assemblyof rollers 15 and 16. As the bed 10 moves forwardly toward the cylinder indicated at C, ink from the plate 11 will be transferred to the assembly' of rollers 17, 18A and 19, as shown in Fig. 4. Upon rearward or returnl movement of the bed 10, ink will be distributed to the form 12 by the rollers 17. During thisreturn movement of the bed 10 and approximately at the time one-half of the formv 12 has been inked, the distributor rollers v19 are elevated or canted to take them out of ink-distributing action to hold the ink thereof in reserve. Meanwhile the rollers 17 are distributing ink to the leading half of the form 12. When the bed 10 is again moved forwardly toward the cylinder C, the distributor rollers 19 are allowed to move downwardly by the actuating means into positions for'ink-distributing action, as the leading edge of the form approaches the rollers 17. The

Vreserve supply of ink on the rollers 19 will be transferredv to the leading half of the form 12 through the intervention of the rollers 18 and 17. In this manner, the form 12 will be inked vuniformly throughout the 'entire area thereof and because of this manner of feeding or distributing the ink to the form 12 the advantages hereinabove mentioned may be achieved. a

In a printing press having a reciprocatory printing form,

when the distributor .the forward half portion inking means including distributor rollers for inking said form in response to the reciprocation of the latter, said rollersbeing mounted` so as to be moved int-o `positions to take them out of ink-distributing action to hold a quantity of ink in reserve, and means to move said rollers for the aforesaid purpose, said last means being operable to allow said rollers to move into positions for ink distributing action during the early part of the forward movement of the printing form, so that said inking means will distribute the reserve ink to the advanced portion of said form in each forward movement of the latter.

2. In a printing press having a reciprocatory printing form, inking means including distributor rollers for inking said form in responsezto vthe reciprocation of the latter, said'rollers being canted so as to be moved into positions totake' them out of ink-distributingaction to hold a quantity of ink in reserve, and means to cant said rollersfor the aforesaid purpose, said last means beingoperable to allow said rollers to move into positions for ink-distributing action during the early'part of the forward movement of the printing form, soA that said inking means will distribute the reserve ink to the advanced porti-on of said form in each forwardvmovement of the latter.

' v 3. In a printing press, in combination, a reciprocating printing form, form inking means including an ink distributor roller mounted for movement into and out of ink distributing position; and roller outl of ink distributing position, and to hold it out during a late part of the rearward travel of the printing form, to hold ink in reserve, said means being operable'to allow said roller to move into ink distributing position, and to remain in said last position during the early part of the forward travel of the printing form, to distribute ink more uniformly throughout the printing form by distributing the reserve ink from the roller.

4. In a printing press, in combination, a reciprocating printing form, an assembly'of inking rollers consisting of rollers which transfer ink directly to said printingform, and ink distributing rollers, said distributing rollers being mounted so as toy be moved into positions to take them out of ink distributing action to hold a quantity of ink in reserve, and means to move said distributor rollers for the aforesaid purpose, said last means being operable to allow said distributor rollers to move into positions for ink distributing acti-on, so that said assemblage will distribute the reserve ink to a definite part of the printing surface of said form each time the latter moves forwardly. l Y

5. In a printing press, in combination, a movable printing form, form inking means including ink distributor rollers mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions; and means to cause the movement of said rollers into and out of said positions in timed accord with the movement of the printing form, so that said rollers rwill be in ink-distributing positions during the early part of the forward movement of the printing form, and so that said rollers will be out of ink-distributing positions during the late part of the rearward movement of the printing form, for the purpose of distributing ink more uniformly throughout the printing form by Ldistributing a reserve supply from said rollers to the remainder of said means and then to substantially of the form in each forward movement of the latter. f

means to cause the movement of saidV 6. In a printing press, in combination, a movable printing form, form inking means including ink distributor rollers mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions; a movable member engageable with the rollers, and means to cause the movement of said member to cause the movement of said rollers into and out of said positions in timed accord with the movement of the printing form, so that said rollers will be in ink-distributing positions during the early part of the forward movement of the printing form, and so that said rollers will be out of ink-distributing positions during the late part of the rearward movement of the printing form, for the purpose of distributing ink more uniformly throughout the printing form by distributing a reserve supply from said rollers to the remainder of said means and then to substantially the forward half portion of the form in each forward movement of the latter.

7. In a printing press, in combination, a movable printing form, form inking means including ink distributor rollers mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions; a reciprocal member engageable with the rollers, and means to cause the reciprocation of said member to cause the movement of said rollers into and out of said positions in timed accord with the movement of the printing form, so that said rollers will be in ink-distributing positions during the early part of the forward movement of the printing form, and so that said rollers will be out of ink-distributing positions during the late part of the rearward movement of the printing form, for the purpose of distributing ink more uniformly throughout the printing form by distributing a reserve supply from said rollers to the remainder of said means and then to substantially the forward half portion of the form in each forward movement of the latter. l

8. In a printing press, in combination, a reciprocal printing form, form inking means including ink distributor rollers mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions; mechanism which reciprocates the printing form, and means operated in timed accord with said mechanism to cause the movement of said rollers into and out of said positions, so that said rollers will be in ink-distributing positions during the early part of the forward movement of the printing form, and so that said rollers will be out of ink-distributing positions during the late part of the rearward movement of the printing form, for the purpose of distributing ink more uniformly throughout the printing form by distributing a reserve supply from said distributor rollers to the remainder of said means and then to substantially the forward half portion of the form in each forward movement of the latter.

9. In a printing press, in combination, a reciprocating printing form, inking means including form inking rollers, vibrating rollers which constantly cooperate with said form rollers, and distributor rollers which cooperate with said vibrating rollers, said distributor rollers being mounted for movement into and out of contact with said vibrating rollers; and means to cause the movement of said distributor rollers into and out of contact with said vibrating rollers in timed accord with the reciprocation of the printing form, for the purpose of distributing ink more uniformly throughout the printing form by distributing a o reserve supply from ysaid. distributor rollers to the remainder of said means to a portion of the form in each forward movement of the latter.

10. In a printing press, in combination, a movable printing form, form inking means including ink distributor rollers mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions; and means to cause the movement of said rollers into and out of said positions in timed accord with the movement of the printing form, so that said rollers will be in ink-distributing positions during the early part of the forward movement of the printing form, and so that said rollers will be out ink-distributing positions during the late part of the rearward movement of .the printing form, for the purpose of distributing ink more uniformly throughout the printing form by distributing a reserve supply from said rollers to the remain- 'l der of said means and then to substantially the forward half portion of the form in each forward movement of the latter, said means including a member engageable with said rollers and having up and down movement, and a rotary cam which operates said member.

11. In a printing press, in combination, a movable printing form, form inking means including ink distributor rollers mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions; a movable member engageable with the rollers, andA means to cause the movement of said member, as the printing form is moving rearwardly, to cause the movement of said rollers out of ink-distributing positions, and to retain said rollers in the out positions during the late part of the rearward movement of the printing form, said last means allowing said member to move in an opposite direction, as the printing form is moving forwardly, to allow the movement of said rollers into ink distributing positions, during the early part of the forward movement of the printing form.

12. In a printing press, in combination, a movable printing form, form inking means including ink distributor rollers mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions, a movable member engageable with the rollers, a rotary shaft, and acam on said shaft to cause the movement of said member, as the printing form is moving rearwardly, to cause the movement of said rollers out of ink-distributing positions, and to rel tain said rollers in the out positions during the late part of the rearward movement of the printing form, said cam allowing said member to move in an opposite direction, as the printing form is moving forwardly, to allow the movement of said rollers into ink-distributing positions, during the early part of the forward movement of the printing form.

13. In a printing press, in combination, inkdistributor rollers mounted for movement into and out of ink-distributing positions, a slidable rod having up and down movement, an arm articulated with said rod so as to be freely engageable with said rollers into an active position to move them, and also movable to an inactive position, and means to cause the up movement of the rod, to cause said arm while in its active position to move said rollers out of ink-distributing positions, and allowing the down movement of the rod and arm so that the rollers may move into their ink-distributing positions.

GEORGE ALEXANDER SKIDMORE. FREDERICK RAYMOND MOLITOR. JAMES FRANCIS DE MOTT. 

